New year, new music!

Hey there! Welcome, both to you (and to me, lol), for another year of Monthly Recommendation Roundup! It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve done one of these, so I’m hoping you’re as excited as I am to be back at it again.

But if you’re not a returnee and this is your first time checking out the series, here’s a quick rundown of what the Roundup is all about—

At the end of each month, I put together a post featuring Japanese music that I’ve listened to and want to recommend to you all. Keep in mind, these songs don’t necessarily have to be recent releases. Some might be tracks I’ve just discovered, while others could be longtime favorites that I’m excited to share on a whim.

The songs I feature will all come from YouTube links to their respective PVs, which means there are some limitations on what I can include. However, I find that sticking to one platform ensures the most accessibility for everyone (and there are easy workarounds for region restrictions). This also allows me to create a playlist of all the songs featured in each Roundup, which I update and share at the end of every post

I say this every year, but the January Roundup in particular always feels a bit weird to work on because I technically skip doing a December Roundup in favor off the annual Roundup Awards (which, if you happened to miss, you can still go check out here!). I did what I could with it as I do whenever this month rolls around though so yeah, something to keep in mind as you go through this month’s featured tracks.

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maigo
by Quw
I wouldn’t mind being lost if I had this track playing in the background

I always love starting the year of Roundups with a band I featured prominently the year before or one that left a big impression on me during that time. It’s like a little validation, as if giving them their shine last year somehow encouraged them to respond in kind. Not that that’s ever actually the case (lol), but I’m genuinely thrilled to see Quw kicking off the year strong with their new single, maigo. If you caught last year’s Roundup Awards (and if you didn’t, what are you waiting for? Check it out here!), you’ll remember Quw snagging the Sleeper Release of 2024 award with their debut full-length album, Omowaku. That release had me instantly hooked—composer mdrm’s otherworldly melodies and vocalist i’s captivating delivery were mesmerizing then, and those same elements shine beautifully on this track. I mentioned this during their last appearance on the Roundup, but Quw has a pretty active release schedule. Honestly, if they keep dropping tracks of this quality, I could definitely get used to it.

MUSIC
by Aivy
I love how they use that synth

On the flip side, one band I regret not featuring in any of last year’s Roundups—despite holding them in pretty high regard—is Aivy. Honestly, that’s on me for completely missing out on their 2024 activities, but it’s something I’m determined to make up for this year, starting with their newly released song MUSIC. That being said, I did get to talk about Aivy back in 2023, sharing what I loved about their sound. Unsurprisingly, given how consistent and solid the band is, a lot of what I said back then still holds true now. In particular, I mentioned their generally uplifting vibe, which is beautifully amplified by frontwoman Kamo’s bright, clear vocals. While those elements remain a strong presence in MUSIC, what really stood out to me here was the retro-style synth they worked into the chorus. It gives the track this wide, airy quality that perfectly complements Kamo’s soaring vocals—to which she obliges by delivering some beautiful high notes, as you’ll hear for yourself here.

猫ダッシュ/neko dash
by 八木海莉⚡電音遊戯 (yagi kairi denon yugi)
This PV has to have been excruciating to film for her what

Another artist I didn’t get to feature much on the Monthly Roundups last year, but who still managed to leave an impression, is Yagi Kairi. She had a couple of strong showings in Season 2 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft, so her activities weren’t entirely off my radar. Interestingly, during one of those Draft weeks, I mentioned being curious to see her work with a Vocaloid producer since her style felt like such a natural fit for electronic music of that kind. Fast forward to now, and not only has Yagi continued to hone her craft—her singing is much more polished, with noticeably better control and pitch precision—but she’s also embarked on a side project that’s essentially answered my curiosity. Teaming up with members of the alternative rock band AGE, she’s launched a collaboration under the name Yagi Kairi Denon Yugi (“Yagi Kairi Electric-Play”). As it turns out, my hunch was pretty spot on. In Neko Dash, Yagi sounds completely in her element, seamlessly blending her style with this new electronic-rock sound. It’s a fantastic fit, and I’m genuinely excited to see where this project goes from here. A full album might be a bit ambitious, but an EP or a mini-album? Now that would be a treat.

ベイト/bait
by MARKET SHOP STORE
Vo. MAME slays in that dress

As I mentioned earlier, the January Roundup always feels a bit strange to put together since I don’t get to do one for December, thanks to the Roundup Awards. That inevitably leaves me regretting some of the songs I didn’t get a chance to feature but would’ve loved to highlight. So, if you’ll indulge me, let me touch on a few of them here—starting with MARKET SHOP STORE’s Bait. Thankfully, the PV for Bait dropped this month, even though the track is from MSS’s December 2024 album release, 1078 (which, by the way, I HIGHLY recommend you check out). It’s an absolutely explosive way for the four-piece hopefuls to kick off the year. Given that the band is coming off a three-year hiatus, now feels like the perfect time for them to reintroduce themselves, especially with the resurgence of all-female bands. Groups like NEK! and komsume have recently emerged and found success, so the timing couldn’t be better. For what it’s worth, MSS’s collective technical skill when it comes to instrumentation is absolutely solid, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn some heads this year. They’ve got the chops—it’s just a matter of getting more ears on them.

caffeine
by 不眠旅行 (fumin ryokou; “nemurastrip”)
Just a beautiful track

In truth, a big part of why I wanted to feature some of my December favorites was because of Nemuras Trip’s caffeine. It’s one of those songs I couldn’t not share, if only to encourage more people to experience the band’s beautiful soundscapes. Vocalist Moeka has this incredible ability to pull at your heartstrings with her gentle yet deeply affecting singing, and the band’s instrumentation is equally evocative. There’s this joyful melancholy in their melodies that feels like nostalgia bottled up—the kind of music that makes you want to sit by the windowsill with a hot cup of coffee and just let yourself get lost in thought. I genuinely think caffeine is Nemuras Trip’s best work to date, and what’s exciting is that they only seem to get better with each release. In the past I’ve compared them to fellow emotional rock band Atarayo before, and that still feels apt. I truly believe they have the potential to reach similar heights. Honestly, and as I’ve also expressed before, I can’t help but think they’d be a fantastic fit for the ASAB label (and hey, if any ASAB A&Rs happen to be reading this, you’re welcome. Also hire m-).

SKYDRIVE feat. とた (tota)
by TEMPLIME
Truly sublime

Before diving into this track, I’ve got to give a huge shoutout to commenter and friend of the blog, CJ, for tipping me off to TEMPLIME’s EMPT MILE album in the December 2024 J-Music Advance Party (and if you haven’t read that yet, go check it out!). Honestly, I doubt I would’ve picked it up on my own without their recommendation, and suffice it to say, not only did I thoroughly enjoy it—I genuinely think it might be the most underrated album release of 2024. It’s no exaggeration to say that every single track on it is a banger, but if I had to pick a favorite, it’s SKYDRIVE without question. I love everything about this song—the way the beat plays with syncopation, the asynchronicity between the instrumental melody and Tota’s vocals that creates such a layered, multi-dimensional feel, and Tota’s light, airy voice that effortlessly carries you through even the track’s busiest moments. It’s a musical journey in itself, and I’m so glad I got to experience it. On top of that, I’m also glad that TEMPLIME went all out and released PVs for every single track on EMPT MILE on their YouTube channel, so be sure to check those out too!

haikai:pop
by lilbesh ramko
Never has a track made me feel so… in the moment

lilbesh ramko’s haikai:pop wraps up the December tracks I wanted to highlight, and honestly, it’s the one that best sums up my music listening habits over the past month. If you follow me on Spotify, keep tabs on my Last.fm activity, or even just glance at my Discord status, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been on a bit of a Japanese hyperpop binge. It started late last year and has very much carried over into this one. I’m admittedly a latecomer to the genre, with one of my first introductions being lilbesh ramko’s haikaicollection. While hyperpop is often defined by its chaotic, high-energy sound, what really hooked me with lilbesh ramko’s music—particularly in haikai:pop—is (and this might sound a little funny) the “air pressure-y” quality of their bass distortion and booming synth beats. There’s something about that raw, almost tactile sound that just hits differently. Maybe it’s because I don’t listen to enough drum and bass mixes, or maybe the fidelity of my audio gear is giving me some unintended ASMR vibes, but it reminds me so much of live music. Experiencing that intensity through a pair of headphones feels like being transported to a crowded, high-energy venue. I can only imagine how haikai:pop would sound live—though I’d love nothing more than to experience it firsthand the next time I’m in Japan. If this song hits as hard in person as it does through my headphones, that’s going to be a moment.

Anti Piracy Screen prod. 原口沙輔 (haraguchi sasuke)
by 嚩ᴴᴬᴷᵁ, e5, utumiyqcom
Fire

As a direct result of my Japanese hyperpop binge, I’ve also found myself falling into what can only be described as a jirai kei rabbit hole. For those unfamiliar, jirai kei (lit. “landmine type”) isn’t so much a genre as it is a fashion subculture. It’s primarily associated with a specific aesthetic often tied to certain Japanese women who are perceived as “dangerous” or “troublesome” (like “stepping on a landmine”). While the connection to music isn’t entirely clear, it seems that artists who wear jirai kei fashion during performances or whose lyrics evoke similar imagery often get tagged under this label (at least on Spotify). Musically, it’s more like kawaiicore rap with predominantly drill-type beats, which, trust me, is a lot better than it might sound on paper. My exploration of this niche led me to rapper e5 (ego) and her circle of associated acts, and honestly, she’s become a favorite of mine. Through her, I found out about Anti Piracy Screen, a collaboration with 嚩ᴴᴬᴷᵁ and utumiyqcom. Given the style of the beat here, e5 doesn’t lean into her speedy bars as much as she showcases her melodic rap, which is still solid. Both 嚩ᴴᴬᴷᵁ and utumiyqcom show out, though, and the whole track feels like a rap cipher in its presentation, which I very much enjoyed.

Lonely Night
by 夜々 (yoyo)
Those song credits are insane what

It only took one look at the lineup behind Lonely Night to get me curious about singer-songwriter yoyo, who, by the way, just made her major debut last month in December. While you’re vibing to yoyo’s smooth stylings, let me give you a quick rundown of this track’s collaborators: Kawatani Enon, Chan Mari, Kinoshita Tetsu (from Raisan and a support guitarist for several acts, most recently Hoshimachi Suisei), Tsuyuzaki Yoshikuni (from PASSEPIED), and PARKGOLF on programming. Calling this anything less than a star-studded ensemble backing a freshly debuting artist would be a massive understatement. Naturally, this lineup had me intrigued, so I did a little digging—and I might have found the connection that brought this all together: CLOUD NINE. If you’ve been following along, you might recall I talked about them in the October 2024 Advance Party. They’re the production agency behind another fast-rising act, shallm, whose explosive debut I largely credit to CLOUD NINE’s industry pull. Turns out, yoyo is also signed to CLOUD NINE, and it’s pretty clear she’s getting the same kind of high-powered push considering how this debut single is already going to be used as a drama tie-up as well. Whether or not this is a one time collaboration with the aforementioned talent remains to be seen, but with this level of backing and talent surrounding her, I wouldn’t be surprised if yoyo makes some serious waves in the coming months. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

セピア/sepia
by メレ (mele)
That instrumental break rips me apart

To those of you joining us for the first time here on the unofficial Monthly Recommendation Roundup indie band slot, welcome, and thank you for making it all the way to the end. Since this is the first Roundup of the year, I figure it’s a good time to fill new readers in on a little tradition we have here: the final feature of the month is always reserved for indie bands and artists. Sure, you could argue that I feature indie acts pretty regularly as it is, but consider this the dedicated spot where, no matter what, an unsigned or independent artist will always have their moment to shine. This month, that honor goes to the two-man band Mele and their latest single, Sepia. Now, you might think, after hearing the first minute, that it sounds like your standard prog-leaning Japanese alt-rock fare. And while that’s not an unfair assessment of the opening, it’s in the bridge leading into the second verse where this track truly begins to shine. The once-steady drum work starts to play with off-time signatures, the guitars suddenly erupt into aggressive, wailing riffs, and the vocals hit an emotional peak—all of which builds into a stunning breakdown as the song reaches its dramatic crescendo. Then, just as you’re catching your breath, the track eases into a brief moment of reverie before closing out with a beautifully cathartic refrain. Lovely stuff.

MUST LISTEN:
“caffeine” by Nemuras Trip and “SKYDRIVE feat. Tota” by TEMPLIME
It’s a little funny to me, too, that the two tracks I’m picking as this month’s must-listen Roundup picks are actually from December—but hey, let’s call it my way of making up for skipping a December Roundup altogether. caffeine is, again, just a beautiful track that you can play anytime you want to feel warm and fuzzy inside. I firmly believe in my heart that Nemuras Trip can go on to do a great many things, and I sincerely hope this song (which I do think is their best one yet as I said) would mark the beginning of just that. SKYDRIVE is magic, plain and simple. You hit play, and the track just takes you wherever it wants to go—all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. TEMPLIME did such an amazing job on EMPT MILE, and I can’t recommend enough that you check out the rest of the album once you’re done here. Trust me, it’ll be well worth your time.

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The YouTube playlist for 2025 is now live! Both Spotify, and Apple Music playlists have also now been updated with this month’s featured tracks.

Make sure to save them on your preferred listening service if you haven’t yet already, so you always have access to the Roundup 😉

If you’re craving more songs to check out, the Roundup Extended Playlist for January 2025 is now live! For those who are new to the series, these extended playlists (or EPs) highlight other tracks I enjoyed this month but didn’t get a chance to feature. This month was absolutely packed with some seriously fun releases, so go ahead and give it a spin—you might just find a few more new favorites to add to your library!

What did you guys think of this month’s Roundup? Let me know in the comments! And if you’ve got your own recommendations for the month, don’t be shy—share them with the class down below. I’d love to hear what’s been on your playlist!

The J-Music Advance Party is back for another year, kicking things off with the January edition, which dropped on January 12, 2025 (check it out here!). If you’re new to the Party, it’s my Substack newsletter where I dive into upcoming releases I’m excited about each month—think of it as a little pre-release event. It’s totally free, so if that sounds like your kind of thing, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Party! The next one is set for February 9, 2025. Hope to see you there!

Season 3 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft is officially underway, with Week 1 and Week 2 already in the books! For those unfamiliar, the Draft is a bi-weekly series here on the blog where I test how well Spotify can recommend songs for me. This season, we’ve added a new twist with the introduction of the Exempt List. Curious about how it works? Check out this month’s Draft weeks to find out!

Last but definitely not least, the J-Music Exchange/Rate is back this year to satisfy your album review needs! We’re keeping it pretty straightforward this time with a theme centered around some of our favorite albums by Japanese seiyuu. For Al, I chose Mizuki Nana’s ROCKBOUND NEIGHBORS, which you can check out over at the Omunibasu Substack. In return, courtesy of Al, I reviewed Furihata Ai’s Super moon. If you haven’t caught it yet, you can find it here!

I think that about wraps up everything I needed to cover. Thank you all so much for stopping by whenever you do—it really means a lot. As always, I hope the Roundup and everything we do here on the blog is just as fun for you (if not more!) as it is for me to write and put it all together.

Happy Listening!